Salute



Feb. 10, 1931. M, RUTTER ET AL 1,792,246

SALUTE Filed Nov. 19. 1928 fie--1- WITNESSES: INVENTORvS. MW 5% ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 unites s Fries SEE? SALUTE,

Application filed November 19, 1923. Serial No. 320,269.

The present invention relates to the improvement of the construction of a pyrotech nical device such as a salute or fire cracker so as to improve the product andi'aciiitate its construction.

Desirable features of devices contributory to the above ends are that'they should be constructed with a minimum of materials and so that they will produce the maximum amount of noise or flash of explosion that can be gotten from the amount of material used. To this. end the salute is so constructed as to confine the charge of explosive firmly within its casing. Under these conditions when the charge has been exploded the gases formed thereby will be held confined in a compara tively small space until a considerable pressure has been built up and when this has reached a point beyond the resistive strength of the enclosing envelope, rupture thereofi will occur withaloud report.

A specific embodiment attaining theabove objects is illustrated in the accompanying; drawings and comprises a tubular. member having a charge of powder therein; the ends of the tube being closeclJby' cup-like plugs or wads positioned so as to provide a resisting flange to prevent premature dislodgement' of the plugs, or wads. Flanges formed on the edge of the plugs togetherwith' the inwardly curved end walls of the tubular envelope. are ofparticular importance inthat connec tion. This construction will be. described in detail in the following specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1* represents a salute formed in ac cordance w'iththe principles. of the present in g -ention,

Figure 52 is a central longitudinal section through a salute such as is shown in Figure 1', showing the end closures in place and in their accustomed relation to eacliother.

Figure 3' shows a slightly difier'ent are rangemen't of the plugs orfwads' relative to the tubular container, and

Figured is a' disassembledviewof the parts of the container showing the relative dimensionsof. the end closuresto the tubular member;

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10

designates a tubular member which may be formedof paper or any suitable-material and of any desired thickness, 11 and 12 designate closures for the ends of the tube and 13 designates a fuse connected with one of these ciosure members. In the construction of the device, the end member 11 is first placed within the tube 10 while it is in the form shown in Figure 4, after which "the tubular member 10 is turned on end with the end in which the member 11 is positioned downwardly. The charge of powder represented at 1 is then placed in the tube above the member 11. after which the closure member l2is inserted above the powder, thus enclosfie ing the powder within the tubular member 10. The members 11 and 12 before assembling with the tubular'member 10 are of the cup shape substantially as shown in the drawings, having their peripheral edges slightly flared outwardly as shown at 1'5 and In consequence of this fact and the fact that the diameter of theplugs or closures 11 and. 12- are slightly greater than the diameter of the tubular member 10, causes a frictional connection between the tubular member 10 and the end members 11 and 12 which will hold the parts in assembled position against the ordinary pressure exerted thereon by the weight of the powder contained therein. This resistance however, is not sufiicient tofproduce the maximum detonation when the salute is exploded. In consequence,.in the manufacture of the salute after the above. steps have been completed, the ends of. the tubular member 10 are bent inwardly as shown at 17 and 18 and according to the form of t'he device as shown in Figure 2, the flange portion oi the cup-like plugs are also bent inwardly withthe bending of ends 17' and 18' ofthe member 10;

, It. will be noted from Figure 2 that these flanges and these ends lie in contact with each other'an'd form a braceagainst the disiodgementof the plugs; A further feature to be noted in this connection is the rounded cup-like or dome-like shape of the plugs themselves, which form an arch supported by" the abiitmelits" as described above 199 ing maximum resistance against the thrust of the gases of combustion caused by the ignition of the fuse 13 and the consequent burning of the explosive 14- within the envelope.

The tendency of the pressure of the gas will be to force the domes 19 and 20 of the plugs outwardly, This tendency, it will appear, will cause greater pressure and bind- I ing contact between the flaiiges 15 and 16 and the bend in walls 17 and 18 delaying in this manner the explosion of the cartridge and the consequent escape ofthe gases into the air, and the more suddenly the explosion takes place, and the greater the pressure at the time of explosion the greater the detonation, and consequently, the greater efliciency of the device for thepurpose for which it is intended.

An alternative form of the salute is shown bite into and grip the fuse 13 with suflicientf firmness to hold it in place. The firmness of this grip is augmented by the pressure of the aperture against the member 12, when the same is inserted into the end of the tube The invention has been described in the preceding specification in connection with the ordinary salute or lire cracker. It is to be understoodhowever, that any pyroteclt nical device of this character may be manufactured so as to involve the same principles and the present illustrations and description are to be considered inerelyas repre-.

tentative and illustrative of the application of the principles to a pyrotochnical device.

It will aopear from the aboi' edescription' that in the present invention. has been p'rovided a, device in which a minimum of ex plosive may be used to produce'the desired detonation or flash and that adevice has been provided which maybe simply and cheaply constructed without the use of glue or other means for fastening the parts together. other than the friction which may be provided between the various parts themselves.

lVhile we have illustrated and described one embodiment of our invention, it: will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and, hence, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth but consider that we are at libertylto make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the ends of the tubular member being bent toward the axis of jthe tube and resting against andconforming with the walls of the cups and a charge of-explosive between said plugs, said cups presenting substantially spherical surfaces to said charge. p 2. The method of making a salute consisting in frictionally securing a plug in one end of a tube, turning the tube on end with the plug downward inserting a charge of explosive on top of the plug, inserting afuse carrying plug and simultaneously. bending the ends of the tube over the plugs.

3. A salute consisting of a tubular member, cup-shaped plugs disposed in'spacedrelation to each other within'the said tubular member and frictionally secured therein, the ends of the tubular member being slightly curved inwardlyfor preventing withdrawal of the. plugs.

4. The method of. making a salute consisting in forcing a cup shaped'plug in .one end of a tube havinga smaller diameter than the largest diameter of the cup-shaped plug, turning the tube on end with the plug downward, inserting a charge of explosive in the tube, forcing a fuse carrying cup-shaped plug on top of the explosive and then simultaneously bending the ends of the tube over the plugs. i 7

5. A salute comprising a tubular member, a charge of explosive within the tubular member, a plug in one end engaging against the charge and having a flange extending in frictional contact with the tubular member on the side remote from the charge, the said tubular member and'enclosed flange being.

convergingly constricted, and a.closu're for the other end.

j 6..A salutecomprising a tubular member,

a charge of explosive within the tubularmein 7 her, a plugin one end havinga convex side engaging against the charge and having-a flange extending in frictional contact-with f the tubular member oiiYthe side remote from the charge, the said tubular member anden closed flange being convergingly constricted,

and a closure for the other end.'

v7. A salute. comprising a tubular member closed at one end, a'charge of explosive within the tubular member, a. plug. engaging against the charge and in frictional contact with the tubular membe'i'g'said plug and tubular memberbeing tapered to provide provgressively increasing resistance to discharge; In testimony whereoflwefhavesigned: our namesfto this specification; 1 MONTfRUTTERI; 1

EMIL E. LECHLERQ 

